Antonio Darden, Susana Martinez's Former Hairstylist, On His Decision Not To Cut New Mexico Governor's Hair

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez will never get the secret formula for her hair color, which was created just for her.

So says Antonio Darden of Antonio's Hair Studio in Sante Fe who made headlines when he let it be known he refused to cut Martinez's hair because of the GOP governor's opposition to same-sex marriage. He also seems to be dismissing Martinez's office's claim to The Huffington Post that he wasn't even her regular hairdresser.

"I colored and cut her hair, being a hair color educator for Macy’s," Darden said in an interview on my radio program on SiriusXM OutQ. "So it wasn’t just cutting her hair. It was the hair color that was also involved."

And he went on to explain that Martinez, whose office had called him the day following his refusal to cut her hair to see if he had changed his mind, won’t be getting the formula for the color from him.

"A lot of people think that the formula, when it’s made from a hair colorist, that it’s your right to have," he explained. “It isn’t. You came here for me to formulate and do your hair color. Normally I sell the formula to people if they want to go to a different salon that is cheaper. I normally give the formula to clients if they’re moving out of state because I care about my clients. But I would not give that formula to her."

Darden says that he's received enormous support in the form of calls, emails and postcards from around the world, as well as from locals who've walked into the salon to give him hugs. He also says other hairstylists and service workers in town are showing solidarity.

"I have talked with some of the other hairstylists who've emailed me and who sent me cards and they own their own salons," he said. "They're major salons here in Sante Fe and they told me they're following suit with me and she is not welcome in their salons either. I've already heard about so much that’s going on in town. It's not just about her hair. It’s about the service in restaurants. It’s about the people in town and when she’s out in public. There have already been stories of people who have shouted at her.”

As for the governor's hair, Darden is not sure who's doing it, but he can tell that Martinez just can’t get the color right.

"I got three more pictures of her in the last couple of months,” he said. “I don’t know who’s doing it, and I'm not trying to say they really don't know what they’re doing. I’m just wondering -- what’s going on?"
Listen to the full interview with Darden below: